Last Updated on March 24, 2020 by Taylor
Direct messaging on Instagram isn’t just for sending hilarious cat pics to your friends.
In fact, it’s one of the best ways to grow your business, make connections with potential customers, and increase your sales.
Basically: it goes down in the DMs.
Why is direct messaging important for business?
There are lots of reasons why you should focus on direct messaging.
Not only is it huge for brand awareness and making sales, but it’s also a great way to make personal connections with your audience.
Because being in business isn’t always about the bottom line. It’s also about getting to know the people you serve, making lasting friendships, and actually enjoying yourself.
I know: crazy, right?!
Here are some of the many ways direct messaging can make an impact on you & your business:
- Make a personal connection with someone
- Build trust with your audience
- Organically discuss your products and/or how they can solve someone’s problem or add value to their life
- Increase your engagement (when you have a conversation with someone via DM, they’ll see your content more often)
- Receive a glowing testimonial or review for your products
- Open up the door for potential business collaborations
So, how can you use this strategy to make the most of your Instagram engagement efforts?
How to Initiate a Direct Message Conversation (without feeling sleazy)
Of course, it feels great to have others start a conversation with you.
But we can’t expect that to happen all the time. Often, we should be going out and making our own connections. This is especially true if you want to get discovered by those outside your existing audience.
Once you’ve found someone you want to engage with, here a few ways to make it happen in an organic way:
1. Reply to their Instagram story
This is so simple to do. If you come across someone’s Instagram story that you connect with, that makes you laugh, or that taught you something, be sure to let that person know!
You can easily reply to their story via direct message by using the little comment box below their story.
This is especially powerful if you find something you have in common with the person. As humans, we love making connections with others who love the things we love, or who share similar passions.
Even if you don’t build a lasting friendship, that person is more likely to remember you (and trust you) in the future.
2. Ask a question related to their expertise
People love to share their unique insights, opinions, and knowledge. Open up the conversation by asking a specific question about their passion or expertise.
For example, you can ask someone with a beautiful herb garden how they take care of their basil plant.
If you love someone’s taste in home decor, ask them about their favorite place to score great decor finds.
For voracious readers, ask them an opinion on an author or book they’ve read.
No matter your niche, this is a great way to make people feel good about themselves, because they can share their knowledge and passion with someone else.
3. Mention/tag them in your own Instagram story
If you tag someone in your story, they automatically get a notification from you in their direct messages with an image of the story. They can click on it to view it directly from the message.
This gets you on someone’s radar, even if you’re not sure yet how to make a personal connection with them.
You can share a recent post of theirs that you loved, re-share their story, or highlight something they’re good at.
Either way, they’ll probably feel all warm and fuzzy when they see that notification, because you took the time to say something nice about them. And very likely, they’ll respond, even if it’s just to thank you.
Direct messaging is one of the simplest ways to grow your business (and have fun doing it).
Not only can you talk one-on-one with potential customers, but you can also make connections with other brands and influencers for future collaborations.
Use those DMs to make someone’s day (including your own). Because if there’s one thing we often forget, it’s that social media is for being social. So get chatting!
>>>>>>>>> Related Post: 7 Powerful Ways Instagram Can Help You Sell More Products
